Vote for Foolishness!

Got this message from DonorsChoose.org, that I wanted to share with you.

Vote for Foolishness! Posted: 31 Oct 2008 09:25 AM CDT Lots of words go through my mind these days as I ponder the trampoline-like bounce (or maybe more like a squash ball bounce – very little "up" momentum) of the stock market. Foolishness could be one. Some people may also think in the current climate, charitable contributions are the last thing a company should be focusing in on. It's a time to retrench, regroup, SAVE! And saving is just the kind of foolishness the folks at Motley Fool are all about. Every day, the folks at Motley Fool work to educate, amuse and enrich the individual investor on their path to wealth building. But their saving isn't just about individual investors. In their 2008 Foolanthropy initiative, Motley Fool picked four nonprofits each of which are focused on financial literacy in the K-12 education space – their idea being, smarter young investors will lead to a healthier long-term economy. That sounds anything but foolish to me! And foolish or not, they've selected DonorsChoose.org as being one of the lucky participants. How does it work? All you have to do is click here, and scroll down slowly until you see the bright green box pictured right here: Then click on DonorsChoose.org and hit vote. You may be asked to enter your email, but that's it! What happens if we win? Motley Fool will contribute $10,000 to be matched by another $10,000 to financial literacy projects in the Washington DC region. Coming from a bunch of "Fools," we think it's a foolproof strategy to get sensible needs met in DC! Vote today!

Marquis of Queensbury Rules

I just want to remind everybody that on Election Day Tuesday, we want a fair fight. No kicking, scratching, biting, gouging, or hitting below the belt.

We had plenty of that during the campaign.

NaNaPooPoo, or whatever: The Drama Continues

Ya know, drinking and computing don't mix.

Last night, after a discussion on Twitter of whether I actually invented "NaNaPooPoo" as a term for NaPodPoMo (National Podcast Post Month), and after several too many beers, I registered two new domain names: "NaNaPooPoo.com," and "NaPooPooMo.com."

I have no idea why.

I have no practical use for those domain names, nor can I conceive of any for anyone else. I really should cancel both -- assuming it's possible to recover any of the money, which is at best uncertain. And yet...

Both were cleverly conceived, I thought. True I don't know of any potential use for "NaPooPooMo." Maybe someday, when the National Fertilizer Board decides to have "National Fertilizer Month," they'll come running, and I'll become wealthy and powerful overnight. Hey, could happen.

And "NaNaPooPoo.com" sure seems like someone would have a use for it, some day, doesn't it? It's just clever enough to be really useful for something -- say a humorous podcast of some sort. Unfortunately, I'm not a very funny guy, so it won't be my humor podcast. So maybe I should hold on to that one. Or maybe both?

And the one I've been thinking about registering for a while, that I really intended to register -- I still haven't registered.

LIS, drinking and computing don't mix.

Monday Monday Monday! Going to Work on Monday!

Ya know, this NaPodPoMo stuff doesn't seem that hard, necessarily. I just recorded the first five days' worth of shows, and know what I'm likely to be doing for much of the rest. Decided to do a bunch of "Stories from the Hiber-Nation" episodes, since I can do those far in advance, and I have a whole lot of "Beggar" to finish.

"Grizzly's Growls," though, I'm kinda stumped on. All the stuff I've had happening in my life, I already discussed last show. Don't want to discuss politics, which seems to be the big topic for a few more days at least. Scary times, what with how vicious some folks are getting. Don't even wanna think about it.

I can do another project from "Grizzly's Giving Page," see if I can stir up some interest that way. I'm still the only donor who's used the page, though, and I hadn't intended on spending all my money on charity this month. I figured the only fair way to handle that aspect, was to donate $10 myself to each project I review on the show. And maybe, eventually, someone will decide it's as good an idea as I feel it is.

Monday morning I have to go to work, of course. It's been a while since I've worked mornings; I've been on a schedule where I didn't even start work till 2:00 pm, and that was rather short-term, too. For the next couple weeks, though, I'm supposed to be starting at 10:00 am, so I can do some work on B-to-B calling. It's only telemarketing, but that's what I get paid to do, so that's what I do.

Maybe I'll just keep it short and hope to get to the end of the show with my dignity intact. Could be worse, could be snowing. Oh, wait, it is snowing. Nevermind.

Too Early, and Too Late

It's almost 2:00 am here. I've been looking at the next part of "Beggar," and trying to get motivated to get it recorded.

Instead of recording, though, I spent Saturday fiddling with a half-dozen social networks and a couple new microblogging setups. I also added links to all my various "Net Presences" on my Grizzly's Growls Presents podcast page. Most of the things I linked to, I never really use, but I feel like I ought to. I think it's by being Present so many places that folks finally hear about the shows and what I've been trying to do.

I grabbed a couple new audio files I can use to fill out the regular podcast. There's that "You Don't Need an iPod" thing, Nobilis' PSA of course, that sort of thing. I even have the Environmental Defense Fund sending me a copy of the audio for one of their commercials I rather admired on Hulu. I'm not a radical about the environment, or much of anything else. But I do feel it's important, there's stuff that just has to be said, and I have a "bully pulpit" from which to say some of it.

Sometimes, granted, I feel like I'm kinda cheating, using so much content from other folks. I suppose it's not unusual; most of broadcast radio & TV consists of playing music by other people, telephone calls with other people, news about other people. Almost no one creates all their own content, all by themselves.

But I keep feeling like I ought to be creating more myself. The show is supposed to be from me, not just clever manipulation of existing content, but something I create myself. It's a high standard, maybe an absurd standard, but it's a standard I feel strongly I should be achieving, or reaching for.

Anyway, it's way too early to start work for Sunday, and too late to worry about Saturday. Sometimes, I miss a step. To quote Professor Chipping, from "Goodbye, Mr Chips," The Milk's spilt. Don't let's cry.

Listen?

Let's suppose you never listen to podcasts. Let's suppose it's because you think listening to podcasts is too hard.

Okay, then let's make it simpler.

At the top of my webpage at Grizzly's Growls Dot Com, there's a little yellow button marked "Listen." Click on it. It'll start playing all my shows, starting with my most recent, and working it's way back. Thre's a similar yellow button on the sidebar of the page for this blog, at Blog dot Grizzly's Growls dot Com.

Just a little javascript flash player, or something like that. Even opens up in a new window. so you can continue listening while in your main browser window you're still, um, browsing.

It'd be a shame to miss out, just because it seems too hard.

Listen.

Live on the Erkpod roundtable

I Skyped in briefly to the latest Erkpod Roundtable, btw, which was streamed live on uStream. I have no idea what was going on, other than me showing up. But I was there.

Frankly, I found the whole thing kinda intimidating. I don't do "live" very well, at least that's my impression of myself. Other folks said I did fine. And maybe I did. Even given I had no idea what the topic was supposed to be.

StoneCasting

One fundamental assumption of the Rules of Righteousness, is that one knows what is right, and exactly how one is supposed to behave.

But one rule of the New Age -- hell, a rule of every age since the Dawn of Man, is that none of us know what actions produce what consequences. The times, they are a changin'. That's the nature of "The Times."

So, since even the most clever and "technosavvy" of us don't have any frikkin' idea what's going on or what are the right actions to produce the right consequences... we can never be other than "sinners." We can never do other than Epic Fail.

We will, always and forever till the end of the known universe, fail to make the right choices. Because there are always new choices and new consequences. We will always fail; if not under the old rules, then under the new ones, whatever we find out later they were.

WE CAN NEVER REALLY BE RIGHTEOUS, in a world of constantly changing consequences. So, all the pointed fingers in the world need big floppy red gloves on them, to go with the foam-rubber noses, fright wigs and "clown shoes."

Glad I settled all that. I'll bill ya later.

The Mantle of Righteousness

One fundamental assumption of the Rules of Righteousness, is that one knows what is right, and exactly how one is supposed to behave.

But one rule of the New Age -- hell, a rule of every age since the Dawn of Man, is that none of us know what actions produce what consequences. The times, they are a changin'. That's the nature of "The Times."

So, since even the most clever and "technosavvy" of us don't have any frikkin' idea what's going on or what are the right actions to produce the right consequences... we can never be other than "sinners." We can never do other than Epic Fail.

We will, always and forever till the end of the known universe, fail to make the right choices. Because there are always new choices and new consequences. We will always fail; if not under the old rules, then under the new ones, whatever we find out later they were.

WE CAN NEVER REALLY BE RIGHTEOUS, in a world of constantly changing consequences. So, all the pointed fingers in the world need big floppy red gloves on them, to go with the foam-rubber noses, fright wigs and "clown shoes."

Glad I settled all that. I'll bill ya later.

That One Thing

You remember the movie "City Slickers" from a while back? Jack Palance's character mentions "that one thing," the most important thing. Once you know what that one thing is, that's what you devote your life to pursuing, the most important thing in life.

Giving that some thought, I came to some conclusions. Say, for example: Tragedy is not the most important thing.

I'd think that The Most Important Thing would have to be scarce. Tragedy is not scarce. Everyone has some tragedy in their life. Often it's something quite large and disturbing and saddening. But it isn't That One Thing.

Wait, am I saying that Tragedy isn't important? Well, no. Tragedy is Tragic, that's why they call it that. But That One Thing would have to be something scarce. Everybody's got some Tragedy, so it ain't scarce. Even the Bible contends, when there were (arguably) only four people in the entire world, there was already a murder, a tragedy. (And then there were three.) Not scarce; and in some ways, things aren't much better.

How about love? Well, Love is Lovely, that's why they call it that. Scarce? Depends on how you measure scarcity. You could argue there isn't quite enough, but I don't know if you can argue it's Scarce.

So, what is That One Thing? (Drumroll, please!)

.

.

.

I have no idea.

Anybody else?

You Don't Need an iPod...

Ya know what's a shame?

I do a podcast -- DARN IT! -- I keep meaning to call it a Webcast. Most of my listeners don't use iTunes, they get my shows from the Grizzly's Growls Website. Which also means (most likely) most of my listeners don't use iPods, they use some other sort of MP3 player, or even one of the Flash players on the website. Webcast. Webcast-webcast-webcast. Anyway.

One of the things I like doing on my show is audiobook reviews. I usually review books from Podiobooks.com, cause I really can't afford to be buying books alla time, and I get to download them for free (they appreciate donations, too, of course, I should say).

Is this what they call "burying the lead?"

Well, here's the trouble. I just reloaded my MP3 player with new 'casts, 4 Gig worth, somewhere between 72 and 144 hours of audio, best guesstimate. I'm a month behind. I like listening to the Shows, but now I don't seem to have time to listen to Books. I really should prune my list down a bit. By about half, say. Hate to miss one, but it's not like I'm gonna run out. By the time I finish this 144 hours, I'll have another two or three hundred hours waiting for me. (sigh)

Then there's that "I need long stretches of silence" thing.

And since I haven't been listening to books, I've got no reviews to do this week. And what else have I got to talk about? Since I generally talk too much anyway, maybe that's a good thing? After all, when I started doing that silly show, I said it was gonna be 10 minutes long!

And ya know what else is a shame? Ronnie Blackwell came out with a new Jonny C Mystery, called "Spite," and I didn't even know about it till now -- cause he didn't do an audio book this time. It's available as a print-on-demand paperback or as a PDF file from Lulu for cheap.

Now he's working on the 3rd. And I haven't even seen the second one yet! And what, I'm actually expected to read the darn thing, not just listen to it?

"A Handy Guide for Beggars," Part 2 is coming soon

I think I need to get started recording the second part of "A Handy Guide for Beggars."

The first part, of course, is in all the southern states. In the second part, he's wandering through some more northern states, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and such. The tone feels entirely different to me -- and I can't use my badly fake southern accent anymore.

I also think I'm going to use a much shorter intro. The current one is just way too long and wordy. "Shut up and tell the dang story, will ya? Jeesh!" I feel your pain.

Lot of recording to do. But I really loved just lying here this morning in dead silence. My world is way too noisy these days. Quiet is a very nice change. "Remember what peace there may be in silence."

USA Patriot Act

Ever notice, whenever you mention the USA Patriot Act on the Election 2008 feed on Twitter, it comes to a complete halt? Why is that, I wonder?

My official Poltical views...

Grizzlysgrowls Aw, fuggit, don't wanna argue with folks who think "For Change" comes from 26 years in Congress with No Change. You haven't paid attention.

McCain "for change"

John McCain has been in Congress for 26 YEARS.

So, I gotta ask, for how long has he been "for change?"

Cleese, Palin, and Parrots

Don't really know the lady, and have no opinion of her. Which is fine, I knew 30 years ago I wouldn't be voting for Republicans. 'The names have changed, but it's still the Same Old Gas."

Top Rated Podcasts (10/2008 - Society & Culture)

"Top 100 Rated Podcasts (10/2008 - Society & Culture)
These are the top 100 rated podcasts on Podcast Alley as voted on by you during October of 2008 for Society & Culture genre. Want to see your podcast here? Then tell your listeners to come to the website and vote for your show."

Well, Actually....

I pointed this to the second one hundred. And I'm at the top of that list. At the moment. With a tailwind and a full moon.

Absolutely and Unforgivably Shameless... VOTE, DAMNIT!

It is understandable, perhaps, that the Republicans have learned a basic truth of USian elections. People who actually show up and vote, rule the country.

And the people who actually do show up and vote, in spite of what ever "spite" is spewed, even if they have to wade to the polls through overflowing sewers of political aggression, are Republicans. And the Republican "leaders" know, whatever level of hell they descend to, no matter how beyond human comprehension the levels of depravity they reach, no matter if they create new levels of evil in their hateful, so-called political action...

Republicans still show up to vote Republican. Democrats only show up to vote if they're pissed off about something. And if you piss off folks enough, ANY folks, they WON'T vote, demonstrating that the Royalist pigs are right, that We the People are not worthy of our More Perfect Union.

They tried in the 1770's. They lost.

They tried in the 1810's. They lost.

They tried in the 1860's. They lost.

But they never quit. Minions never quit, cause quitters never win.

So, basically, it is in the best interest of the Republican Party to encourage USians to NOT VOTE. For their purposes, whatever you do, don't vote, and they win.

It's kind of like, "if people stop showing up for work (or whatever), the Terrorists win!"

Well, "if people stop showing up for voting, the Republican Leaders Win!" The same leaders who funded the same terrorists who've most recently attacked us.

Kind of a shameful association.

But one the Republican "leadership" chose for themselves. They could all show up for a meeting of the Ba'ath party, and no one would notice. Where do you think the funding for Bin Laden's organization came from? PTA teas? Bin Laden was originally funded by the CIA. Who was the Director of Central Intelligence at the time? But I mean that in the nicest possible way. ;-)

And with all the money they've spent to create that association, let's not let them down, by golly! You wouldn't want to let down the glorious leaders of the Grand Old Party, now would you? (And they lied about -that-, too. That other party was founded by Thomas Jefferson, just a little bit earlier.)

If you don't vote, you decide to surrender your vote to the supporters of everything you'd be most ashamed to have stain your family name. If you don't vote, you surrender to everything this country was founded to stamp out.

If you do vote, EVEN IF YOU VOTE REPUBLICAN, at least you voted, you showed them that no matter how hard the Republicans try to make you ashamed of your country, you are still apart of the most important experiment in self-government in the history of humanity.

If you don't vote... the terrorists win.

Some of the terrorists wear ties, and live in D.C. Go figure.

Griz

Almost There on PodcastAlley.com

Okay, on Podcastalley.com, my podcast is # 101 under Society & Culture. Almost there! So, all I need is just a little more interest via that venue, and I hit the Podcast Alley Top 100, I become famous and world-renowned, get rich, and can devote all my time to creating yet more podcasts and whatnot. And of course, that's exactly what I'd do -- as compared to becoming an alcohol-soaked blithering idiot. Which I'd never do, because it's my -job- to be a Well-Known Internet Celebrity at that point, and of course I'd never break that covenant with my readers and listeners. No, really. I'd never do that. Never.

Please ignore the maniacal giggling. No really, I'd never do that. You can trust me.

Griz

Just reopened my Facebook. Why not. 70 shows done now. 84 if you count all of them. Busy guy, I must be. http://ping.fm/jgaap

(Fwd) thanks + hoping you'll encourage your readers to vote in

Just got an email from Charles Best, founder of Donors Choose.org, that
website I mentioned the other day, that I wanted to pass along. They have
a special project they're trying to get completed, and there's only a
couple more days left.

Hope you'll consider helping out -- I don't have an AmEx card, myself.

Thanks!

Griz

------- Forwarded message follows -------

Grizzly,

Thank you so much for participating in the DonorsChoose.org Blogger
Challenge! Eleven days into the campaign, bloggers like you have
channeled support to 27,147 kids in public schools.

I have a big favor to ask: Would you consider encouraging your readers to
vote for us in the AmEx Members Project <http://www.membersproject.com/> ?

The contest ends at midnight EST on Monday, so we've got less than 48
hours
left to go. 1st place comes with $1.5 million, and 2nd place comes with
$500,000-all of which would go to classroom projects on our site. In this
economy, winning those funds could be critical for the students and
teachers we serve.

I hope you'll check out the video for our Members Project entry, which
might inspire extra enthusiasm for your giving page in the Blogger
Challenge:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jp9SAZf0eKY

Here's the link to vote for our entry, "Help 100,000 Children Thrive in
the
Classroom"

http://www.membersproject.com/project/view/V8EWJV

You need an AmEx card to vote, but you don't need an AmEx card to tell all
your friends to vote.

Thank you for considering it!

Sincerely,
Charles

Charles Best

Founder, DonorsChoose.org

212-239-3615 x 201

--

Grizzly's Growls Podcast: <http://grizzlysgrowls.com>
Stories from the Hiber-Nation:
<http://grizzlysgrowls.com/index.php?post_category=story>
Blog: <http://blog.grizzlysgrowls.com>
Grizzly's Giving Page:
<http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/viewChallenge.html?id=1
9180>

NaNaPooPoo, or whatever.

So, I signed up the other day for National Podcast Post Month, or NaPodPoMo. The name threw me, at first -- wondered what "NaPooPooMo" might be. (Need new glasses.)

NaPodPoMo is an idea inspired by NaNoWriMo, the National Novel Writing Month, I think that is. Writers pledge to write X thousand words every day for an entire month. Arguably, one could complete a novel in a month that way. And writers support each other in meeting their goals every day, which is rather hard, like anything else you have to decide to do on your own.

National Podcast Post Month requires a podcaster (like me) to produce at least one podcast every day, for all 31 days in November. On the face of it, this seems like a Good Thing. Podcasting is somewhat related to writing, depending on what you're podcasting. Some of it IS writing, of course.

Now I'm having second thoughts, at least on how to do this right.

Do I do much shorter shows, so I can manage to come up with 31 days of worthwhile (cough, cough) content? The case could be made that my shows are too long anyway, so it'd be an improvement, nu?

Would it count if I did 31 episodes of "Stories from the Hiber-Nation?" That would only require recording and editing; I wouldn't need to actually write that many shows. But that's not doing 31 days of my original "Grizzly's Growls" podcast. That would -definitely- require shorter shows, and at least one IDSL tune for each show.

And do I get to count both "Grizzly's Growls" and "Stories from the Hiber-Nation" shows? I'd think so, but I want to abide by the spirit of NaNaPooPoo, or whatever. (I think NaNoWriMo sounds much better and is easier to say. Am I wrong? I think it should be called NaPodWriMo, because podcasting requires writing, too, I think.)

And considering my next Grizzly's Growls will be show 70, I'd be producing Episode 100 some time during NaPodPoMo. Is that a Good Thing, or a Bad Thing?

Given I normally have no idea what I'm going to talk about on GG, doesn't that necessarily reduce the quality of the shows? Is producing 31 days of Mindless Drivel sufficient to the spirit of the event?

Don't ask me, I ave no idea. Anybody have any thoughts?

Perfidy

Perfidy is an act of deliberate treachery or deception.

Look up perfidy in
Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Under the 1977 Protocol I Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 (Protocol I) there is a specific prohibition on perfidy:

“

Article 37.-Prohibition of perfidy 1. It is prohibited to kill, injure or capture an adversary by resort to perfidy. Acts inviting the confidence of an adversary to lead him to believe that he is entitled to, or is obliged to accord, protection under the rules of international law applicable in armed conflict, with intent to betray that confidence, shall constitute perfidy. The following acts are examples of perfidy: (a) The feigning of an intent to negotiate under a flag of truce or of a surrender; (b) The feigning of an incapacitation by wounds or sickness; (c) The feigning of civilian, non-combatant status; and (d) The feigning of protected status by the use of signs, emblems or uniforms of the United Nations or of neutral or other States not Parties to the conflict. 2. Ruses of war are not prohibited. Such ruses are acts which are intended to mislead an adversary or to induce him to act recklessly but which infringe no rule of international law applicable in armed conflict and which are not perfidious because they do not invite the confidence of an adversary with respect to protection under that law. The following are examples of such ruses: the use of camouflage, decoys, mock operations and misinformation.

”

Perfidy was part of the customary laws of war long before the prohibition of perfidy was included in Protocol I. For example in the Hague IV: Laws and Customs of War on Land; (October 18, 1907) Article 23 includes:

“

In addition to the prohibitions provided by special Conventions, it is especially forbidden - ... To kill or wound treacherously individuals belonging to the hostile nation or army; ... To make improper use of a flag of truce, of the national flag or of the military insignia and uniform of the enemy, as well as the distinctive badges of the Geneva Convention; ...

”

The issue of whether the donning of enemy uniforms in order to approach the enemy without drawing fire was within the laws of war was established under international humanitarian law at the trial in 1947 of the planner and commander of Operation Greif, Otto Skorzeny, at the Dachau Trials. The court did not find Skorzeny guilty of a crime by ordering his men into action in American uniforms. He had passed on to his men the warning of German legal experts, that if they fought in American uniforms, they would be breaking the laws of war, but they probably were not doing so just by wearing the uniform. During the trial, a number of arguments were advanced to substantiate this position and that the German and US military seem to be in agreement on it. In its judgement the Court noted that the case did not require that the Court make findings other than those of guilty or not guilty, so consequently no safe conclusion could be drawn from the acquittal of all accused.^[1]

Do You Wanna Touch?

Was just watching a commercial for the HP Touchsmart PC. Clever. Certainly use the touchscreen on my Palm Tungsten E PDA alla time.

But I'm thinkin...

I already have the keyboard on my usual computer (my Dell laptop) all sticky and whatnot. I just recently replaced the keyboard (different reason) and it's already showing sticky and contaminated services.

So what, now I wanna get my monitor all sticky & messy, too?

I don't think so.

Donors Choose needs your help

A project I care about, “Help 100,000 children thrive in the classroom,” is in the Top 5 of the American Express Members Project. If it wins, $1.5 million in resources will be delivered to 4,000 classrooms at America’s highest need schools. Our schools urgently need these resources. Please vote today!

If you’re an American Express cardholder, vote now!

Whether or not you hold an American Express card, please forward this blurb to everyone you know! We can’t do this without your help.

If you are having problems voting, please click here for more detailed information!

Fun with a GIANT BABY

Just for fun, I was typing in Twitters mentioning various current-campaign political candidates and a GIANT BABY, and watching the "wide-open" Election feed, to see it all show up there. Twitter is for Fun, it isn't for pushing political crap. I'm hatin' me some politics today.

So, after a while, Some Guy sent me a Tweet demanding a link to some source, and I pointed out I was "just playin'," which I was. Love me some technology.

After which, anything I said about McCain or Palin was blocked from that feed. But if I said something about Obama or Biden, it went right through.

Yeah.

Like any post about a GIANT BABY on Twitter will be taken seriously and immediately show up on CNN & Fox.

Actually, it probably would. You know how us Conservatives get.

http://election.twitter.com/topic?t=Giant%20Baby

http://election.twitter.com/topic?t=Giant%20Babies

How I would do a Tech Podcast

I have a minor dilemma. I do a "Personal Journal" sort of podcast. Nothing wrong with that. But of course, the really big, popular podcasts are "Tech Podcasts."

Trouble is, most Tech Podcasts are focused on listeners calling or writing in to ask questions, and the host answering those questions from a wealth of expertise. I don't have a wealth of expertise.

I don't actually know anything. I used to, but they changed it all in the 30 years I've been doing this, and I don't usually understand the new stuff that well. I just kinda fiddle around and muddle through, if what I'm doing is important enough to me. In fact, I have a lot more questions than I have answers.

So, here's my idea.

I ask the questions, my technically savvy audience provides the answers. I assume I have a technically savvy audience; I really have no idea. Never asked 'em. But they at least know how to download podcasts, right?

I certainly have plenty of questions that come to mind. I do try to follow many of the tech podcasts that actually have answers, but they're usually answering some question unrelated to mine -- interesting and educational, but not directly solving my problem.

So, this seems like it might work. Couldn't hurt, nu?

Interviewed on UTalkin2Me!

Just got to listen to an interview with me, on Big JD's "UTalkin2Me" podcast.

It's an interview show with folks who do various interesting things with their time. He did a couple recent shows with interviews with various podcasters like me, had some intelligent questions to ask. I was (rather surprised to be) pleased with how the interview turned out , though Skype was being contrary, and the audio was pretty bad.

Didn't think I'd interview well. But I actually sounded reasonably intelligent and articulate. I encourage you to listen.

Giving what you can

As I've mentioned, I don't make much. I don't have much to give. I don't suppose many people do.

Dave Taylor on Twitter suggested an organization called DonorsChoose.org, which has mechanisms for creating a donation widget so my readers can donate to small and specific projects, intended to help teachers help students in small but important ways. That's what that "Grizzly's Growls Challenge" gadget is for.

Iif you can give a few bucks, click on the widget and take a look at some of the projects I thought particularly appropriate; projects to help with reading, for special needs kids, for Autistic kids. Every little bit helps, and completing any of these projects isn't out of reach, a little bit at a time.

Up to you. I really hate asking for stuff. But since I could, I put this thingie up to ask for me. There's one on the Podcast page, too, of course.

Check it out at least. Thanks.

Grizzly

Re: HELLO A delurker approaches

It was 1 Oct 2008, when Ree commented:

> Don't ask me. I just remember that there was never enough to read so I had
> to re-read things a lot and when the concept of a library was introduced at
> school (Public School grades K-6) I was really frustrated because here was
> a whole room full of books and I was only allowed to take out 2 at a time
> and could only return them every 2 (I think) weeks when we had library
> class. I went to a lot of trouble to pick books that were really
> interesting (so worth re-reading) and had some size to them....not that any
> of them really did. Then later, I found that Bancroft had a library but
> that was 40 miles away and when we went to town, there were things to do so
> it really wasn't available to me till much later.

Well, I was born Aspie, so there's that. IQ of 141 or so, which they now
is really 171 or so, depending on which test.

Then again, I was also born, for good or ill, the second-youngest child of
a librarian. When I was growing up, my Mom was a librarian full-time.
When Mom was working, either we had a neighbor girl babysitting, or we
spent the day where Mom worked. We'd spend entire days in the Children's
Room of the library, reading -- if we were watched closely enough. I did
plenty of Further Reading.

When we weren't spending whole days in the library, Mom would bring home a
whole sack of books home from work. I was always reading. When I finally
got to Elementary School, I looked at the books available, and my jaw
dropped. "Don't you have actual -books-? Don't you have a Real Library?"
By First Grade or so, I was reading at the so-called "Sixth Grade Level,"
at least. I went to Lowell Elementary School's so-called "Library," and I
felt myself to be in a Vast Wasteland, with no Actual Books available. I
did find a relative handful of (marginally) Real Books (the "Rufus
Moffett" series for example), but it was mostly "Dick says, "Hi." Jane
says, "Hi." Dick says "How are you?" Jane says, "You show me Yours, I'll
show you Mine." Speaking of Tip & Mitten, probably.

Somehow, I wasn't the most popular kid with the teachers. Or the other
kids. Or the parents. Or the janitors. Und so weiter.

But the Librarians always like me. They knew Wassup. Back before Wassup
was Wassup.

--

Grizzly's Growls Podcast: <http://grizzly.libsyn.com>
Stories from the Hiber-Nation:
<http://grizzly.libsyn.com/index.php?post_category=story>
Blog: <http://grizzlysgrowls.blogspot.com>